Medical and Health Advice

Documents needed: EHIC and passport.

Doctors and Dentists

Doctors: If you’re taken unwell on holiday in Portugal, you can use your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) for free or reduced cost treatment at one of the public health centres/clinics (Centro de Saúde). Open during working hours on weekdays.

There’s a small charge for a doctor’s consultation, ditto for prescriptions. Waiting times can be long, especially in busy resorts in high season.

Dentists: You can use your EHIC - formerly known as the E111 Form - for basic dental care and extractions carried out at health centres. Hospitals have dentists attached to them for serious cases.

Most dentists work in the private sector so it’s likely that you'll have to pay for treatment. Charges aren’t refundable with the EHIC.